Historic Schools Success Stories: Horace Mann Elementary School
North Dakota | Posted: January 31, 2008Horace Mann Elementary School is located in the heart of Fargo, North Dakota. The Fargo school district, which offered its first educational session in 1872, serves more than 11,600 students and employs 1,200 people including 750 teachers. The school district consists of two high schools, an alternative community high school, three middle schools, thirteen elementary schools, one kindergarten center as well as the Trollwood Performing Arts School.
Due to budgetary constraints in the late 1990’s, the Fargo School Board targeted the Horace Mann Elementary School for closure. This was triggered by sprawl development as well as low student enrollment numbers. At the time, Fargo was, like many communities, facing sprawl development. South Fargo was stretching away from downtown and out towards the countryside, which generated interest in building a new school on the south side of Fargo to accommodate the new growing population. Downtown schools were therefore targeted by the School Board, who believed downtown Fargo would continue to lose population.
In addition, the Fargo School Board also believed that elementary schools should have populations of over 400 children. While this is not a clear policy, School Board members had cited the small population at Horace Mann as a strike against the school, which at the time had less than 250 students.
As a result, neighborhood members rallied to the defense of the Horace Mann Elementary School. The Horace Mann Neighborhood Association began having weekly meetings to discuss ways to keep the school doors open. The Association sought innovative ways to decrease the budget and attempted to educate the school board about the impacts of school closure on neighborhoods. During this time, Fargo was undergoing a downtown revitalization. As a result, city officials began to see the closure of Horace Elementary School as a threat to the revitalization efforts.
In an attempt to keep the school open, Mayor Bruce Furness drafted a plan to ease the school district’s budget shortfall. As a result, the city would give the school district a million-dollar loan. An advance payment from the downtown tax increment finance district would cover $770,000 while the remaining $230,000 would come from federal community Development Block grant money. The city commissioners voted 3-2 in support of this plan. The city’s loan came with a guarantee from the school district that no downtown school would be closed for three years. As a result of Horace Mann remaining open, the City of Fargo provided low interest loans to neighborhood residents which has spurred community reinvestment.
The Horace Mann Elementary School is an advocacy story for preserving historic neighborhood schools. While the school has not undergone a major renovation, the building has been updated and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The high technology presence in the school has significant impact on student education. The historic neighborhood school, which has well above average test scores, is also within walking distance for almost 90 percent of its students!
Contact Information & Project Details
School Administrator
Mr. Bob Rohla
Horace Mann Elementary School
Principal
1025 North 3rd Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
701.446.4600
hmeint@fargo.k12.nd.us
Community Leader, Neighbor or PTA Member
Mr. Dean Sather
Becker County Historical Society
Historian
PO Box 622
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 56502
218.847.2938
Description of Project
Address: 1025 North 3rd Street, Fargo, North Dakota 58102
Status (local, state, national designation): None.
Date of construction: The school was built in 1915.
Date of previous renovation: In order to accommodate ADA requirements, some changes were made to Horace Mann Elementary School in the 1970’s. This included installing a ramp to the front entrance of the building and updating the heating system.
Use
Use: The school serves the kindergarten through 6th grade level. It was originally used as a junior high school.
Size: There are approximately 225 students at the school.
Student/teacher ratio: The student/teacher ratio is 18:1.
Alternative uses: The school offers before and after school care. In addition, the Horace Mann Neighborhood Association uses the school’s library to host meetings.
Location
Location/Historic district: Horace Mann Elementary School is located in the heart of Fargo, near the north side of downtown, which was founded in the 1870’s. The school, which occupies an entire block, serves neighborhoods consisting of historic homes as well as newly constructed homes.
Bussing vs. walking: The school is well within walking distance for almost 90 percent of all students.
Problems and/or Threats
Close the school building: The Fargo School Board targeted the Horace Mann Elementary School for closure in the 1990’s. At this point, there was talk of selling and/or rededicating the building for other uses.
Raze existing building in order to build a new facility: There were no talks about razing Horace Mann Elementary School.
Policies promoting the construction of school sprawl in outlying areas: While there were talks of building a new school to accommodate sprawl development on the outskirts of Fargo, construction figures were considerably over budget. Low student enrollment numbers also promote the construction of new schools in outlying areas of Fargo.
Resolution
Strategies or state/local polices utilized to achieve success story: In addition to efforts set forth by the Horace Mann Neighborhood Association, Mayor Bruce Furness helped achieve the preservation of Horace Mann Elementary School. In an attempt to keep the school open, Mayor Furness drafted a plan to ease the school district’s budget shortfall. As a result, the city would give the school district a million-dollar loan. An advance payment from the downtown tax increment finance district would cover $770,000 while the remaining $230,000 would come from federal community Development Block grant money. The city commissioners voted 3-2 in support of this plan. The city’s loan came with a guarantee from the school district that no downtown schools would be closed for three years.
Renovation Success
Undertakings: The Horace Mann Elementary school’s mission is to 1) Enhance the student’s social, emotional, and academic progress (2) Encourage students, parents and school employees to show respect and appreciation toward each other and (3) Allow all students to experience success and become contributing members of society. The historic school offers mentoring programs, and other unique classes, including a Kindness Retreat, which involves 4th-6th grade students along with several high school and junior high school students.
Classroom size and circulation: The school building has 15 classrooms.
State-of-the-art facility: Yes.
Computer technology: The school is equipped with 245 instructional computers. The high technology presence in the school has significant impact on student education.
Meets education programmatic needs: Yes.
Building codes: Yes.
Asbestos: There is no asbestos in the school.
Fire safety: Up to code.
Air quality: Up to code.
Handicapped accessibility: Up to code.
Playing fields: The school has its own playground and playing field.
Description of Outcome
Community Response: Horace Mann Elementary School neighborhood residents have provided wonderful support for the school. The neighborhood association (Horace Mann Neighborhood Association) addresses concerns and issues surrounding the community as well as the school. The school’s positive reputation continues to serve as a selling point for potential neighborhood home buyers.
Safety: The neighborhood association has implemented a neighborhood watch program.
Community reinvestment: Fargo is experiencing a downtown reinvestment which has been furthered by the decision to keep Horace Mann Elementary School in service. As a result of the school remaining open, the City of Fargo provided low interest loans to neighborhood residents which have spurred further community reinvestment.
Community Benefits
Increased academic achievement: Horace Mann Elementary School is credited with above average academic achievement. The school offers a gifted and talented program.
Parents: The school has an active PTA group which supports many projects and activities. There is ample opportunity for parents to volunteer at the school.
Quotes
“The excellent educational programming provided to all Fargo schools is available to Horace Mann students through its committed and professional teaching staff . . . With committed teachers and dedicated parents Horace Mann is just the right size, big enough for variety and small enough where no one is lost in the shuffle.”--Fargo Public Schools Website
“Students will be self-reliant people of sound character who have highly developed academic, communication and life skills to succeed in their own lives while contributing to the well being of their communities”--Fargo Public Schools Mission Statement
For more information:
National Trust for Historic Preservation Mountains/Plains Regional Office
535 16th Street, Suite 750
Denver, Colorado 80202
303-623-1504
mpro@www.preservationnation.org
